Golf swing position indicator

ABSTRACT

A device for insuring that the striking surface of a sports implement is properly oriented prior to the initiation and completion of a contact swing. Two position orientation sensors are affixed to the shaft of the sports implement. One sensor senses the roll position of the striking surface, and the second sensor senses the pitch position of the striking surface. When both of these sensors indicate that the striking surface is properly oriented, an audible signal is generated. This signal is maintained for as long as the striking surface is properly oriented.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 804,418,filed Dec. 4, 1985, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to a sport training aid, and isparticularly well suited for use with a golf club to improve the angleand position of the club at the top of the golfer's backswing. Likewise,the device could similarly be used in any sport where a particularposition is preferred prior to the completion of the swing includingtennis and baseball. For purposes of illustration, the invention will bedescribed herein as it is used for the game of golf. The device ispreferably attached to the shaft of the club at a point compatible withthe balance of the club and responds to the pitch and roll of the shaftat the desired position at the top of the backswing, to give an audiblesound only when the desired position is achieved and maintained.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In many sports, such as tennis or golf, it is extremely important forthe athlete to develop proper position of the hands and body prior tocompletion on the contact stroke, so as to achieve maximum result. Forexample, in golf success is particularly dependent upon the player'sability to execute the proper swing. Although there are many theories asto how to achieve an effective golf swing, it is generally accepted thatin each there is a proper positioning of the club head at the top of thebackswing that will facilitate the correct forward swing. In golf, forexample, for many years the recognized authorities on teaching theproper use of the golf club have agreed that there is a well defined,correct position that should be obtained at the top of the backswing andwould be the position from which the forward swing originates. This hasbeen referred to as the "classic position" and is more particularlydefined at the top of the backswing when the shaft of the golf club isparallel with the ground and the leading edge of the club head isrotated 45 degrees below the horizontal. When this proper angle of theclub head is achieved, the golfer has what is referred to byprofessional golf instructors as a "firm wrist", meaning that there is astraight line simulated by the back of the golfer's hand extendingthrough the wrist and forearm. If the wrist is either cupped or broken,the club head will not be at the proper 45 degree rotation that isrequired for a correct position at the top of the backswing.

In golf, as in many sports, it is important that the player beprofessionally instructed whereby the player may initially learn whatconstitutes an effective and proper position of body, hands, club andstance so that the contact implement is in a proper position to beginand complete the swing to make proper contact with the ball. In this waythe instructor can observe the player and adjust the position of thehands, wrists, arms and body to secure the proper implement alignment.However, to consistently achieve this position and execute the properswing, it is important that the player execute consistently the sameposition and swing. Constant supervision by a professional during eitherpractice or play is not usually possible due to cost and availability.For those times when professional instruction is not utilized, there isa need for a training device capable of detecting and indicating whenthe proper position just prior to the forward swing has been achieved.

Prior art devices used to improve an athlete's swing have in large partbeen concerned with the speed, momentum or angle of the implement whileit is being swung rather than the position of backswing. Examples ofthese are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,094,504, Barasch, 3,848,873, Linning and4,515,368 Petitjean. In golf, prior art devices have been describedwhich require a connection between the golf club and a portion of theathlete's body or between an attachment to the golf club and a part ofthe golfer's body during a substantial portion of the swing See U.S.Pat. No. 4,170,356, Banks. These devices, however, have drawbacks. Anysuch device would likely interfere with the natural swing pattern of thegolfer and fail to take into account the body position of the golferwhich may, in turn, affect the quality of the swing. For example, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,170,356, the rod 18 in FIG. 3 may touch the golfer atthe time of backswing, but it in no way prevents an improper dip in theshoulder or other body misplacement. Further, various prior art deviceshave been designed to be placed near the head of the implement, thussignificantly changing the swing weight of the implement. See U.S. Pat.No. 3,848,873, Linning. Oftentimes it is necessary for an experiencedgolfer to first observe and work with the athlete to pre-set the devicesso that the proper swing is indicated by the device.

It is the general aim of the present invention to provide an athleticswing training device which acts independently of any contact with theathlete's body, requires no supervision by an expert, and which emits anaudible sound to the athlete when he has placed the club, bat or racquetin the correct position at the end of the backswing. The electricaldevice includes a battery, sound emitting device, switch housing and twoattitude switches.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome one or more ofthe above-mentioned limitations of the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide the athlete with adevice that is quickly and easily attached to the sports implement tomonitor the athlete's performance so as to inform the athlete that theimplement is in the correct position prior to initiation and completionof the forward swing.

It is another object of this invention to provide the athlete with atraining device that may be attached to the athletic equipment near thegrip so as to be nearly imperceptible by the athlete during practice.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide the athlete with atraining device for use in a restricted area where it is impossible topermit the hitting of a ball to determine whether or not the athlete isachieving the correct position at the top of the swing.

It is also an object of the invention to allow the athlete to pause atthe top of his swing and independently adjust the pitch and roll of thesports implement to develop a feel or muscle memory for the correctposition before following through with the forward swing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a swing training device thatis sturdy enough to allow the user to execute the swing during practiceand then without noticing any difference in swing weight or balance,remove the device enabling the player to transfer the skill to normalplaying conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide the athlete with atraining device which may, if desired, be pre-set to sound at theattainment of a desired position, when the sport involved allows forvariations in the position of the sports implement.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device, use ofwhich will tend to naturally make the player slow the backswing inanticipation of the audible signal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device which iseasily transferable to any club within a player's set to enable him todevelop his skills with each club.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the device as it is attached to a golfclub.

FIG. 2 is a view of the device enclosure and mount.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the indicator, showing the circuit andarrangement of two attitude switches, a battery and a sound emittingdevice.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the indicator.

FIG. 5 is a detailed plan view of a single attitude switch as housed inits enclosure with wire contacts and a ball.

FIG. 6 is a view of a possible bracket arrangement that would allow forvarying the desirable angle of the pitch and roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, illustrative embodiments have been shown inthe drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to thespecific form described, but on the contrary, the intention is to coverall modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing 1 of a device 2 is attached to agolf club 5 near the bottom of the grip 3 and on the shaft 4. Club 5 isillustrated as a driver, but could be any golf club. Locating the deviceon the club as close as possible to the grip 3 minimizes any effect thedevice has on the swing weight of the club and ensures that the skillsdeveloped by practicing with this device are readily duplicated whenusing the golf club with the device removed. As indicated in FIG. 2, themeans for mounting the device may be a hollow, half cylindrical jacket20 which is attached to the housing and which fits over the shaft. Theclamp 6 prevents the device from moving along the shaft 4 toward thehead 7 of the golf club 5 due to the centrifugal force generatedparallel to the shaft 4 when the golf club 5 is swung by the golfer. Theclamp 6 also allows the device to be removed and secured at will such asto use on another golf club.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 1 holds a power source 9, such as a lowvoltage battery, connected to an electrical circuit 11. Within theelectrical circuit are two attitude switches 8, 10; switch 8 responds tothe pitch of the club and switch 10 responds to the roll of the clubwhile poised at the top of the backswing. Under most circumstances,these switches remain disengaged and the circuit open. The circuit isconnected to an audible signal device 30 such as a buzzer or beeper. Anadditional switch 16 turns the device off and on. These components aresecured to a base, such as lightweight wood or perforated peg board 15.When the proper position is attained at the top of the backswing, thetwo attitude switches 8, 10 are engaged, completing the circuit to soundthe signal. In the golf backswing, for example, when the shaft of thegolf club 4 is level, and the leading edge of the club head 7 is rotated45 degrees below the horizontal, the alarm will sound.

The attitude switches are illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 4 and5. Each switch comprises a housing or cage, four metal contacts 19, 21,23, 25 and a metal plated ball 12. Only the two middle metal contacts 21and 23 are electrically connected while contacts 19 and 25 are only usedto physically restrain the rolling ball from undesirable movement.Contacts 19 and 25 are dead externally to the housing. The ball 12 isfreely rollable within the enclosure except its constraint by the fourmetallic contacts. Upon attainment of the correct position of thebackswing, the metal ball in each enclosure contacts the two centermetal contacts 21 and 23 to complete the circuit. Since both attitudeswitches are connected in series, an audible sound will only occur whenboth attitude switches are completed thereby indicating proper pitch androll positions. This arrangement allows that, should the correctposition not be immediately attained, the golfer may pause at the top ofhis backswing and adjust the angle of the club shaft and the rotation ofthe club head until the correct position is reached, bringing the ballssimultaneously into contact with the metal contacts, completing thecircuit. The device will then emit a continuous audible signal as longas the position is maintained. The golfer may then complete thebackswing with the assurance of having obtained the classic positionprior to forward swing.

While the preferred embodiments have been described in connection with agolf club, it is apparent that this device can be used in connectionwith other sports such as tennis or baseball, where a racquet, bat orthe like is used to strike a ball. To allow for such use, where therequired pitch and roll of the sports implement may vary, the deviceshown in FIG. 6 allows for adjustment of the required pitch of theequipment. Of course, a similar device may allow for adjustment of theroll of the equipment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for use with a sports implement providedwith a striking surface and a shaft for determining the properorientation of the striking surface at the completion of the backswingof the sports implement, said device comprising:a housing adapted to beattached to said shaft of the sports implement; and a sensing circuitprovided within said housing for sensing the orientation of the strikingsurface of the sports implement, said sensing circuit comprising:asource of power; a first position sensing means connected to said sourceof power for sensing the roll position of the striking surface; a secondposition sensing means connected to said source of power for sensing thepitch position of the striking surface; and signal means connected tosaid source of power and said first and second position sensing meansfor emitting a signal when both said first and second position sensingmeans indicate that the striking surface is in its proper orientation,said signal emitted when the sports implement is at rest aftercompletion of the backswing but prior to the initiation of the swing ofthe sports implement, wherein the striking surface is repositioned afterthe completion of the backswing until said signal means emits a signal.2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal meansproduces an audible signal when the striking surface is properlyoriented.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signaldevice emits a continuous signal whenever and as long as said first andsecond position sensing means indicate that the striking surface is inits proper orientation.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereineach of said first and second position sensing means is provided with aswitch consisting of:an enclosure; two energizable wire contactsprovided within said enclosure; and a movable metal ball provided withinsaid enclosure, wherein each of said balls moves within its respectiveenclosure and comes into contact with its respective wire contacts whensaid striking surface is properly oriented.
 5. The device in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said first position means and said second positionmeans are electrically connected in series.
 6. The device in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said housing is angularly adjustable on the shaftof said sports implement.
 7. A device in combination with a golf clubprovided with a striking surface and a shaft for determining the properorientation of the striking surface at the completion of the backswingof the golf club, said device and golf club comprising:a housingattached to the shaft of the golf club; and a sensing circuit providedwithin said housing for sensing the orientation of the striking surfaceof the golf club, said sensing circuit comprising:a source of power; afirst position sensing means connected to said source of power forsensing the roll position of the striking surface; a second positionsensing means connected to said source of power for sensing the pitchposition of the striking surface; and signal means connected to saidsource of power and said first and second position sensing means foremitting a signal when both said first and second position sensing meansindicate that the striking surface is in its proper orientation, saidsignal emitted when the golf club is at rest after completion of thebackswing but prior to the initiation of the swing of the golf club,wherein the striking surface is repositioned after the completion of thebackswing until said signal means emits a signal.
 8. The device and golfclub in accordance with claim 7 wherein said signal means produces anaudible signal when the striking surface is properly oriented.
 9. Thedevice and golf club in accordance with claim 7 wherein said signaldevice emits a continuous signal whenever and as long as said first andsecond position sensing means indicate that the striking surface is inits proper orientation.
 10. The device and golf club in accordance withclaim 7 wherein each of said first and second position sensing means isprovided with a switch consisting of:an enclosure; two energizable wirecontacts provided within said enclosure; and a movable metal ballprovided within said enclosure, wherein each of said balls moves withinits respective enclosure and comes into contact with its respective wirecontacts when the striking surface is properly oriented.
 11. The deviceand golf club in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first positionmeans and said second position means are electrically connected inseries.
 12. The device and golf club in accordance with claim 7 whereinsaid housing is angularly adjustable on the shaft of the golf club.